Jeff Carter and Zach Parise Had Similar NHL Paths That are Now Ending Equally Similarly

Zach Parise and Jeff Carter battle for the puck during game 2 of the 2012 Stanley Cup Finals Jim O’Connor-USA TODAY Sports

They are almost the same age. They both played in 19 NHL seasons, as well as the 2009 NHL All-Star Game, the 2012 Stanley Cup final and the 2014 Olympics. They also hit their offensive peaked in the 2008-09 season and are both retiring the same year.

Here’s a look at the careers of Colorado Avalanche forward Zach Parise and Pittsburgh Penguins forward Jeff Carter, who both said this season in the NHL would be their last.

Zach Parise

Parise kicked off his NHL career with the New Jersey Devils in 2005-06 as the 17th overall pick in the 2003 draft.

Born in Minneapolis, Minn., Parise is an all-star in more than one league. He was a member of the WCHA First All-Star Team in 2004 and was named a second-team NHL all-star in 2009.

His NHL offense peaked with the Devils in the 2008-09 regular season. That year, he notched the most goals (45), assists (49), and points (94) in a single season of his NHL career.

He not only won silver at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, but he was on the Olympic all-star team as well. He was a key player for the USA in the gold medal game against Canada. In an iconic game, he scored a game-tying goal that forced overtime. Canada ultimately won 3-2 in OT off Sidney Crosby’s golden goal, but Parise’s effort more than made the now-iconic Canadian game-winner necessary.

Parise captained the New Jersey Devils in the 2011-12 NHL season, helping them get to their first Stanley Cup final since 2003. They subsequently lost to the Los Angeles Kings, bringing an unfortunate end to a solid season for Parise that saw him score 31 goals along with adding 38 assists in 82 regular-season games. The same year, he scored eight playoff goals, tying for first place in the NHL.

Between 2012-13 and 2020-21, he played in nine seasons with his hometown team, the Minnesota Wild. In 2014-15, he scored 33 goals and 62 points in 74 games.

The now 39-year-old Parise said he will retire at the end of this season after a partial campaign with the Colorado Avalanche. He hopes to win a Stanley Cup with the fierce contender to close out his 19-season NHL career.

Jeff Carter

Jeff Carter Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

The Pittsburgh Penguins were eliminated from playoff contention on April. 16, and Carter played his final NHL game the following night.

The 39-year-old scored a goal on four shots against the New York Islanders, as the Pens took a 5-4 loss in their season finale.

Carter has played for both of Pennsylvania’s NHL teams. The Philadelphia Flyers drafted him as the 11th pick in the first round. Like Parise, Carter was drafted in 2003 and kicked off his NHL playing career in the 2005-06 season.

He spent six seasons with the Orange and White, and his NHL offense peaked in his 2008-09 season with Philly, lighting the lamp 46 times, picking 38 apples and notching 84 points in 82 regular-season games. Those were also all career highs.

Carter is a two-time Stanley Cup champion, playing for the Los Angeles Kings in the 2011-12 and 2013-14 seasons when they won.

He also scored three goals and five points in six games for Team Canada at the 2014 Olympics, helping them win a gold medal.

Through his NHL career, he scored 442 goals in 1,321 games.